Page 66 of Rocky Ride

“On surveillance at Darkers,” said Travis.

“See anything?” asked Virge.

“Not enough to tell us what he’s up to. How did your dates go?”

“Good. Real good. Virge isn’t sure about Vicki, but I liked Penny well enough. She’s a nice person. Met the roomie—Shavon—and she’s nice too.”

“I’m glad y’all had fun. Y’all seen Sunday?”

“Nope, not yet. She still sleeping?”

“Don’t think she would be,” said Billy. “I’ll go check on her.”

“You can’t do the stairs,” said Travis. “Virge, run upstairs and see if Sunday is still in Tammy’s room.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Virge went flying upstairs and he was down just as quick. “She ain’t up there, Dad. Where the hell is she? It’s freezing outside and still storming.”

Billy headed for the coat rack at the back door and put his parka on. “I’m going to look for her.”

“We’ll help you, Billy. It’s almost a white-out outside. You can’t see dick when the wind is gusting.”

“Take the dogs,” hollered Travis. “Butchie will look for her right off.”

Virge whistled for Butchie, and we ran out into the freezing fucking snowstorm.

First place Billy went was around behind the barn where the fuckin bears always show up and I knew what he was thinking. Sunday went on another one of her bear-friendly walks.

I could hear Butchie whining way past the bunkhouse that we never used, and I ran that way. “Come on, Virge. Butchie is crying way back in the evergreens.”

The big lab was flopped down beside what was left of Sunday with his head on her frozen chest and I felt so fuckin bad for the dog.

Sunday did this to herself, but she broke the dog’s heart at the same time and that wasn’t fair.

Billy caught up and saw Sunday’s frozen body, clawed and ripped from top to bottom and he was sick right there in the snow.

“Go inside, Billy, and call Doctor Olsen.”

“Yeah. Bring the dog in.”

“Yep. Be right in. It will take the doc a while to get here, and Sunday won’t be going far.”

“Hope Billy didn’t hear you say that, Virge.”

“What does it matter? She did this on purpose. Why would anybody go out in a fuckin storm trying to make friends with fuckin grizzly bears?. Tell me who.”

“Yeah, you’re right, bro. I think there was something wrong with her head.”

“You think?”

“But Billy liked her, and he’s upset. Let’s play down the senseless part and try to make him feel better.”

“Yeah, sure. I can do that.”

We went inside and waited and while we warmed up, Travis made us scrambled eggs and bacon.

Billy didn’t eat anything, but Virge and I were starving. Virge ate half a loaf of toast and jam after he cleaned up his plate.

---